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Ozone layer comeback may be held back by industrial chemicals

Fahad Redha

April 17, 2026
3 min read

Ozone layer comeback may be held back by industrial chemicals

Chemicals that are still allowed in industrial applications may be leaking into the atmosphere at higher than expected rates, slowing down the return of the ozone layer, scientists say. They estimate that the legal loopholes could delay its full recovery by up to seven years, adding that closing the gap could speed up the healing of the layer and help reduce harmful UV exposure.

The 1987 Montreal Protocol has resulted in a steady global phaseout of chemicals that damaged the ozone layer, creating an increased risk of skin cancer, among other issues. It has been hailed as the most successful environmental treaty ever created.

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Researchers from MIT have found that reducing the ozone-depleting substances has allowed the ozone layer to slowly heal, being estimated to reach its 1980 levels by 2040. But that 1987 agreement had a loophole. Some ozone-depleting chemicals could still be used as feedstock to produce other materials. This was based on the belief that only around 0.5% would escape into the atmosphere.

In recent years however, scientists have discovered a higher-than-expected level of ozone-depleting chemicals in the atmosphere. This has resulted in updated the estimates, as they have found that they have a bigger impact than previously thought.

An international team of researchers have examined how this affects its recovery, estimating that it could delay it by around seven years.

“We’ve realized in the last few years that these feedstock chemicals are a bug in the system,” says author Susan Solomon, the Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor of Environmental Studies and Chemistry, who helped identify the original cause of the ozone hole. “Production of ozone-depleting substances has pretty much ceased around the world except for this one use, which is when you have a chemical you convert into something else.”

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.